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Ghana Beads

Ghana is home to the largest bead markets in Africa. Below are African beads imported from Ghana. Trade beads have a long history in the West African country of Ghana. In fact, Ghana beads were once a form of national currency and were used to purchase many different kinds of goods including alcohol, slaves, and even textiles. The production of beads in Ghana was first documented over 200 years ago however evidence of bead production extends over two thousand years. Due to their use in trade, beads in Ghana may have a wide variety of origins that trace ancient and modern trade routes including Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. Modern Ghana overlaps with the terrain of the ancient Ghana Empire.

A number of bead varieties are locally produced in Ghana. These include recycled glass beads that are made from empty glass bottles, seashell beads, as well as Krobo beads. The manufacturing of recycled beads is one way that the people of Ghana use traditional inspiration to bring new uses to old materials. The process involves breaking used bottles in pieces that are then melted and shaped using clay molds designed with the desired shape in mind. Beads may be washed in sand and then painted with designs.

Similarly, Ghana is one of the most important countries for the manufacture of Krobo beads. This name Krobo, is derived from the fact that a great deal of the powdered glass beads in Ghana are produced Krobo artisans. However craftsmen from the Ashanti ethnic group are also heavily involved in this production. Beads continue to play a role in traditional Krobo culture where they are used for many different ceremonies such as birth, marriage, death, and coming of age rituals such as Dipo where girls where a large number of beads and perform special dances. African beads are also used as a symbol of status and are worn by community leaders and chiefs.

In recent years, there has been a revival in the use of trade beads in Ghana so much so that young people are wearing them as an expression of pride in African tradition. Interestingly, the different colors that are used in the design of beads have different symbolism such as blue that represents purity, white that represents fertility, and gold that represents wealth.

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Blue Ancient Djenne Nila Glass Beads (8mm) - The Bead Chest Sold out
$125.00
$125.00 - $125.00
$125.00
$115.00
$115.00 - $115.00
$115.00

Blue Ancient Djenne Nila Glass Beads (8mm)

Out of stock

These authentic Djenne beads derive their name from the ancient city in Mali where they are found. Also known locally as Nila beads, they are said ...

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$125.00
$125.00 - $125.00
$125.00
$115.00
$115.00 - $115.00
$115.00
Sold out
Antique Matching Venetian Millefiori Trade Beads - The Bead Chest Sold out
$179.00 - $179.00
$179.00
$179.00
$179.00 - $179.00
$179.00

Antique Matching Venetian Millefiori Trade Beads

Out of stock

Take a look at this beautiful antique strand of Venetian Millefiori trade beads! Celebrated among the most distinctive of beads, the Millefiori has...

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$179.00 - $179.00
$179.00
$179.00
$179.00 - $179.00
$179.00
Sold out
Black Granite-Style Ghana Glass Beads (25x10mm) - The Bead Chest Sold out
$14.00 - $14.00
$14.00
$14.00
$14.00 - $14.00
$14.00

Black Granite-Style Ghana Glass Beads (25x10mm)

Out of stock

Admire these beautiful glass beads from Ghana designed to imitate authentic granite stone. These cylindrical beads are rich in detail and texture. ...

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$14.00 - $14.00
$14.00
$14.00
$14.00 - $14.00
$14.00
Sold out
Krakamba Black & White Antique Venetian Trade Beads - The Bead Chest Sold out
$225.00 - $225.00
$225.00
$225.00
$225.00 - $225.00
$225.00

Krakamba Black & White Antique Venetian Trade Beads

Out of stock

Old Trade beads such as these are as beautiful in their design as they are exceptional in their craftsmanship. Venetian glass beads were known for ...

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$225.00 - $225.00
$225.00
$225.00
$225.00 - $225.00
$225.00
Sold out
Black Flame Matching Venetian Antique Trade Beads - The Bead Chest
Sold out
$215.00 - $215.00
$215.00
$215.00
$215.00 - $215.00
$215.00

Black Flame Matching Venetian Antique Trade Beads

Out of stock

Old Trade beads such as these are as beautiful in their design as they are exceptional in their craftsmanship. Venetian glass beads were known for ...

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$215.00 - $215.00
$215.00
$215.00
$215.00 - $215.00
$215.00
Sold out
Bright Medley Fused Recycled Glass Beads (14mm) - The Bead Chest
$14.00 - $14.00
$14.00
$14.00
$14.00 - $14.00
$14.00

Bright Medley Fused Recycled Glass Beads (14mm)

in stock

Recycled glass beads are a type of indigenously produced African bead from Ghana West Africa. These beautiful multicolor recycled beads are made us...

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$14.00 - $14.00
$14.00
$14.00
$14.00 - $14.00
$14.00
Antique Matching Venetian Millefiori Trade Beads - The Bead Chest
Sold out
$179.00 - $179.00
$179.00
$179.00
$179.00 - $179.00
$179.00

Antique Matching Venetian Millefiori Trade Beads

Out of stock

Take a look at this beautiful antique strand of Venetian Millefiori trade beads! Celebrated among the most distinctive of beads, the Millefiori has...

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$179.00 - $179.00
$179.00
$179.00
$179.00 - $179.00
$179.00
Sold out
Old Blue & Red Striped Venetian Glass Beads - The Bead Chest
Sold out
$49.00 - $49.00
$49.00
$49.00
$49.00 - $49.00
$49.00

Old Blue & Red Striped Venetian Glass Beads

Out of stock

This special strand of old trade beads was found in West Africa, but likely manufactured during the early 20th century by Venetian production. Each...

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$49.00 - $49.00
$49.00
$49.00
$49.00 - $49.00
$49.00
Sold out
Antique Mixed Venetian Fancy Beads (Long Strand) - The Bead Chest
Sold out
$1,125.00 - $1,125.00
$1,125.00
$1,125.00
$1,125.00 - $1,125.00
$1,125.00

Antique Mixed Venetian Fancy Beads (Long Strand)

Out of stock

This unusual strand of antique Venetian African Trade beads includes a variety of rare and collectible designs. Look carefully and you will see man...

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$1,125.00 - $1,125.00
$1,125.00
$1,125.00
$1,125.00 - $1,125.00
$1,125.00
Sold out
Light Orange Recycled Glass Beads (18mm) - The Bead Chest
$16.50 - $16.50
$16.50
$16.50
$16.50 - $16.50
$16.50

Light Orange Recycled Glass Beads (18mm)

Only 4 left!

Recycled glass beads are a type of indigenously produced African bead from Ghana West Africa. These beautiful green color recycled beads are made u...

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$16.50 - $16.50
$16.50
$16.50
$16.50 - $16.50
$16.50
Orange Mosaic Antique Venetian Millefiori Trade Beads - The Bead Chest
Sold out
$179.00 - $179.00
$179.00
$179.00
$179.00 - $179.00
$179.00

Orange Mosaic Antique Venetian Millefiori Trade Beads

Out of stock

Take a look at this beautiful antique strand of Venetian Millefiori trade beads! Celebrated among the most distinctive of beads, the Millefiori has...

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$179.00 - $179.00
$179.00
$179.00
$179.00 - $179.00
$179.00
Sold out
Cameroon-Style Elbow Brass Filigree Beads (28x12mm) - The Bead Chest
Sold out
$22.50 - $22.50
$22.50
$22.50
$22.50 - $22.50
$22.50

Cameroon-Style Elbow Brass Filigree Beads (28x12mm)

Out of stock

Take a look at these elbow-shaped Ghana Brass Trade Beads from Africa. Each bead is made individually through the "Lost Wax process" technique. Thi...

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$22.50 - $22.50
$22.50
$22.50
$22.50 - $22.50
$22.50
Sold out
Powder Glass Bicone King Beads (16mm) - The Bead Chest
Sold out
$45.00
$45.00 - $45.00
$45.00
$34.00
$34.00 - $34.00
$34.00

Powder Glass Bicone King Beads (16mm)

Out of stock

These bicone-shaped beads have been individually fashioned using a traditional African method for bead making. The powdered glass is layered into ...

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$45.00
$45.00 - $45.00
$45.00
$34.00
$34.00 - $34.00
$34.00
Sold out
Antique Yellow Spiral Venetian Trade Beads (6mm) - The Bead Chest
Sold out
$75.00 - $75.00
$75.00
$75.00
$75.00 - $75.00
$75.00

Antique Yellow Spiral Venetian Trade Beads (6mm)

Out of stock

Commonly referred to as "African trade beads", these beautiful glass beads are of Venetian origin. Beads such as these are said to have been made i...

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$75.00 - $75.00
$75.00
$75.00
$75.00 - $75.00
$75.00
Sold out
Tiny Navy Blue White Heart Beads (2mm) - The Bead Chest
Sold out
$8.00 - $8.00
$8.00
$8.00
$8.00 - $8.00
$8.00

Tiny Navy Blue White Heart Beads (2mm)

Out of stock

Checkout this beautiful strand of blue color white heart seed beads! White hearts derive their name from the inner core of opaque white glass that ...

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$8.00 - $8.00
$8.00
$8.00
$8.00 - $8.00
$8.00
Sold out
Antique Matching Venetian Millefiori Trade Beads - The Bead Chest
Sold out
$179.00 - $179.00
$179.00
$179.00
$179.00 - $179.00
$179.00

Antique Matching Venetian Millefiori Trade Beads

Out of stock

Take a look at this beautiful antique strand of Venetian Millefiori trade beads! Celebrated among the most distinctive of beads, the Millefiori has...

View full details
$179.00 - $179.00
$179.00
$179.00
$179.00 - $179.00
$179.00
Sold out
Flower Field Antique Matching Venetian Millefiori Trade Beads - The Bead Chest
Sold out
$179.00 - $179.00
$179.00
$179.00
$179.00 - $179.00
$179.00

Flower Field Antique Matching Venetian Millefiori Trade Beads

Out of stock

Take a look at this beautiful antique strand of Venetian Millefiori trade beads! Celebrated among the most distinctive of beads, the Millefiori has...

View full details
$179.00 - $179.00
$179.00
$179.00
$179.00 - $179.00
$179.00
Sold out
Yellow & Blue Cylindrical Striped Venetian Trade Beads - The Bead Chest
Sold out
$159.00 - $159.00
$159.00
$159.00
$159.00 - $159.00
$159.00

Yellow & Blue Cylindrical Striped Venetian Trade Beads

Out of stock

Admire this beautiful, EXTRA LONG strand of antique Venetian trade beads! Venetian glass beads such as these were made throughout the 19th and 20th...

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$159.00 - $159.00
$159.00
$159.00
$159.00 - $159.00
$159.00
Sold out
Vintage Ashanti Sandcast Beads - The Bead Chest
Sold out
$14.00 - $14.00
$14.00
$14.00
$14.00 - $14.00
$14.00

Vintage Ashanti Sandcast Beads

Out of stock

Sandcast beads such as these are a traditional craft indigenous to West Africa. The Ashanti region is widely known for the quality and craftsmanshi...

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$14.00 - $14.00
$14.00
$14.00
$14.00 - $14.00
$14.00
Sold out
Yellow Oval Striped Venetian Trade Beads (One of a Kind) - The Bead Chest
Sold out
$159.00 - $159.00
$159.00
$159.00
$159.00 - $159.00
$159.00

Yellow Oval Striped Venetian Trade Beads (One of a Kind)

Out of stock

Admire this beautiful strand of antique Venetian trade beads! Venetian glass beads such as these were made throughout the 19th and 20th century pri...

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$159.00 - $159.00
$159.00
$159.00
$159.00 - $159.00
$159.00
Sold out
Green Vintage Vinyl Phono Record Beads (12mm) - The Bead Chest
Sold out
$45.00 - $45.00
$45.00
$45.00
$45.00 - $45.00
$45.00

Green Vintage Vinyl Phono Record Beads (12mm)

Out of stock

Take a look at this exceptional strand of vintage vinyl beads. Said to be made from vulcanized rubber or recycled phonograph records, beads such as...

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$45.00 - $45.00
$45.00
$45.00
$45.00 - $45.00
$45.00
Sold out
Antique Matching Venetian Millefiori Trade Beads - The Bead Chest
Sold out
$179.00 - $179.00
$179.00
$179.00
$179.00 - $179.00
$179.00

Antique Matching Venetian Millefiori Trade Beads

Out of stock

Take a look at this beautiful antique strand of Venetian Millefiori trade beads! Celebrated among the most distinctive of beads, the Millefiori has...

View full details
$179.00 - $179.00
$179.00
$179.00
$179.00 - $179.00
$179.00
Sold out
Blue & Yellow Striped Venetian Watermelon Chevron Beads - The Bead Chest
Sold out
$24.50 - $24.50
$24.50
$24.50
$24.50 - $24.50
$24.50

Blue & Yellow Striped Venetian Watermelon Chevron Beads

Out of stock

Checkout these beautiful Venetian trade beads, known as watermelon chevron. Similar to the commonly known Chevrons, they display a colorful set of ...

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$24.50 - $24.50
$24.50
$24.50
$24.50 - $24.50
$24.50
Sold out
Cylindrical Bauxite Beads (25x9mm) - The Bead Chest
$37.00 - $37.00
$37.00
$37.00
$37.00 - $37.00
$37.00

Cylinder Bauxite Beads (25x9mm)

in stock

Bauxite is a type of aluminum ore. All African bauxite beads are hand made and drilled, making these beads very labor demanding. Bauxite beads like...

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$37.00 - $37.00
$37.00
$37.00
$37.00 - $37.00
$37.00